birth

Reincarnation, or the rebirth of our spiritual form into different bodies over time, is a broadly accepted concept across many spiritual traditions and cultures. It is a natural extension of the Law of Karma, which tells us that there is no cause without effect, nor effect without a cause. But beyond the basic concept, many of us don’t know very much about this eternal cycle.

Nature is full of these ongoing cycles: the planets in their orbits, the seasons here on Earth. We, in both our physical and spiritual states, are no different. At the moment of conception, our cells begin to multiply at exponential, and highly patterned rates, until the time comes for our physical birth. It is widely believed that each soul, or reincarnated spirit, enters the body when we first draw breath.

It is the agents of karma, among them the angels, who decide, for specific reasons, which souls will occupy each new body. Perhaps there are lessons to be learned or obstacles to overcome. The point is, it is believed that we ourselves do not choose.

In many spiritual traditions, such as Buddhism, the purpose of reincarnation is such that each soul may learn the requisite number of lessons in physical form to ultimately achieve enlightenment, or nirvana. One truth not commonly known is that many more souls exist in the Universe than there are physical people on Earth. A soul may not be reborn immediately following one death; it may wait for hundreds or thousands of years.

In simple terms, your natal chart is the astrological positions of the planets at the exact time you were born. No two are exactly alike, even for identical twins, because each person’s time and place of birth are different. Free chart makers are widely available online, and all you’ll need is your time and place of birth.

So, once you find yours, what do you do with it? Your birth chart is a kind of road map for life. It will spell out your strengths and weaknesses, as well as hidden dangers, behavioral patterns and potential opportunities.

Each of the planets, including the Sun and Moon, are placed in one of twelve houses (segments) of your chart, representing hours of the day. The movements of the larger planets like Jupiter and Saturn point to larger trends like work habits and societal change.

The ascendant, or sign which was on the horizon at the time of birth, is a powerful insight into one’s personality as well, so it’s helpful to know precise times. An over- or under-abundance of elements or particular Zodiac signs will also provide a mirror to the owner of the chart.

When I began studying Astrology, I only focused on the Sun signs, or birth signs, without acknowledging all the other planetary influences that are equally important in person’s chart. An astrological natal chart reflects the planetary alignment at the exact time we are born into the world, which makes us all incredibly unique.

If you want to understand a relationship dynamic or yourself in-depth, a professional astrologer can break down the strengths and challenges of the situation using astrological data. There are also free resources online that can generate a basic astrology report which summarizes each planetary aspect for you.

The planets that fall within each astrological chart and their meaning are as follows:

Astrology fans are often familiar with the general traits of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. For example, we may know our best friend is headstrong because she is Aries, or we might have a moody Cancer parent, or a wisecracking Sagittarius coworker. But how well do we really know the deeper characteristics of each sign?

Each sign has, for example, a hidden side – and it is not just signs such as Gemini or Pisces, which we often associate with duality. Plus, each person’s natal or birth chart is unique! No two charts are alike, just as no two people are exactly alike.

The Fire signs are stereotyped as confident go-getters, who know exactly what they want from life and are born leaders. However, Aries, as the first sign of the Zodiac, seems confrontational to some, but can be sensitive and even childlike. Think of the charging ram versus the meeker sheep. Leo the lion comes across as egotistical and uncaring, putting everyone else below her, but she is also the protector of her pride and makes an excellent parent and confidante. And Sagittarius is literally of two worlds: the horse (animal) side symbolizing wild abandon and humor, and the human, philosophical part which is serious-minded and appreciates deeper meaning.

I walk on the beach daily, near my home. In fact, I often walk multiple times a day. This is my meditative and contemplative time, to reflect and see what areas in my life I can improve or change, what areas are working well, and what shifts are going on.

In the morning, the water can be as smooth as glass. This represents true peace, clarity and reflection. In the afternoon, the water can have three-foot to ten-foot waves, and the beach space that was so abundant in the morning, is gone. This represents the turmoil that is happening in my life and on our planet, or just what comes and goes in the daily news.

In the evening, the water settles down. It’s not quite as glass-like as in the morning, however it has a small and calming wave. This represents all the cleansing that happened during the day and the cleansing that is to happen through the night, bringing me full circle to another calm again in the morning.

When it comes to our birthdays, we may think of our zodiac sign first, but did you know numerology is just as insightful? Each of us has a Life Path number which can be easily determined by our date of birth.

For example, the Life Path number for someone born on January 14, 1974 is 9. January is the first month of the year (1). The 14th reduces to 5 (1+4). The year 1974 reduces to 3 (1+9+7+4=21; 2+1=3). When we add each of these together, we get 9 (1+5+3).

Everyone has a Life Path number between 1 and 9. Life Path 1 people are, not surprisingly, natural leaders and go-getters. Their 2 counterparts are usually peacemakers and diplomats, as in the phrase, “I am second.” A 3 person is usually creative and good at connecting with others, while 4’s are pragmatic problem-solvers. If you have a 5 Life Path, you are a compassionate person determined to better the world. Those born under 6 tend to be domestic and make good parents, while 7 people are known for being investigative and quick minds. If you have an 8 as your life path, you are ambitious and must guard against being a workaholic. And those under 9 are known for their compassion and warmth.

We have all felt, at one time or another, a sense of familiarity with a place, person, or situation, or even a sensation, without knowing the reason why. Some people may have a talent or ease with some things even though they have no prior experience with it. I firmly believe it is because of memories from past lives, and more recently I also came to believe, it is from our genetics, or our ancestral memories.

Some time ago, after scrutinizing my natal astrology chart’s North Nodes, I found I must have reincarnated into this lifetime. In my past last lifetime I was born during the 10th century in Siberia. After doing a past life regression meditation, I found I was an actress, dancer, inventor, detective and craft artist in that lifetime.